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terms we can aim no higher than a rate of return flow to Vietnam of
400 per week.
But
3.
The talks in Washington on 23-25 August swung the Americans
round to putting real pressure on the UNHCR to get the voluntary programme to work. Hocke, the High Commissioner for refugees, told Lord Brabazon in Paris that there were now 1,300 people screened out
in Hong Kong, and over 600 people who had volunteered to return. We know that he was cooking the figures to suit his own argument.
knowing that American heat will now be on him to get the voluntary programme running, the time has come to hoist him with his own
petard.
At the same time we can counter criticism that we have
never given the voluntary programme a chance, whilst also preparing
the ground better for a defence of using forcible repatriation if,
or when, it becomes necessary.
4. Hong Kong has given us a breathing space until mid or perhaps
late October. We should convert this breathing space into a period
for the UNHCR to get their act together. And we can do this by
delivering Hocke an ultimatum to get the rate of voluntary returns
up to equal the rate at which people are screened out, by the end of
October. We can make it clear that if the UNHCR fails in this
objective we will have no choice but to start implementing
alternative methods of repatriation; and that we propose to use the
October review meeting to discuss what actions we will take in the
event UNHCR does fail
5. We should tell the Americans what we are doing. The next round of talks in Washington present an opportunity.
6. I have discussed these ideas with Mike Hanson, Refugee
Coordinator in Hong Kong. He expressed his support. I should be
grateful for comments.
Charks Harwell
CC D Haswell
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